Commencement 2023

  Main Green, Wilson College Campus
Sunday, May 14, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to weather there are some changes to Commencement Weekend events for Saturday, May 13. The Nursing Convocation is moving to the Brooks Science Center Auditorium and the Commencement Garden Party is moving to Laird Hall. 

Commencement Speaker

The Honorable Elaine Chao, the 24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and the 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, will address the graduating class of 2023 at Wilson’s 153rd annual commencement ceremony Sunday, May 14. Read more here.

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Commencement Weekend Schedule

Friday, May 12

5:30 p.m. Ring It Forward Ceremony - Alumnae Chapel

6 p.m. Senior Bash

 

Saturday, May 13

9:15 a.m. Assembly of Graduating Class for Baccalaureate - outside Alumnae Chapel

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Baccalaureate - Alumnae Chapel
If you are unable to join Baccalaureate in-person, you can watch via the livestream at https://wilson.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=05555e94…

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Veterinary Nursing Pinning -Brooks Auditorium

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Combined Honor Societies - Alumnae Chapel

2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Nursing Convocation - Main Green (rain location Brooks Auditorium)

3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Teacher Certification Completers Recognition - Alumnae Chapel

4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. President’s Lawn Party - Sharpe House Lawn (rain location Laird Hall Bays)

 

Sunday, May 14

8:45 a.m. Bachelor’s/Associate’s Student Line up (In front of Warfield Hall, dressed in cap and gown)

9:30 a.m. Faculty Assemble (In front of Library)

9:45 a.m Undergraduate Processional Begins

10 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
Watch the livestream of the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony here.

12:45 p.m. Master’s Student Line up (In front of Warfield Hall, dressed in cap and gown)

1:30 p.m. Faculty Assemble (In front of Library)

1:45 p.m. Processional begins

2 p.m. Graduate Commencement Ceremony

Watch the livestream of the Graduate Commencement Ceremony here.

 

 

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Inclement Weather Arrangements: Tickets and Guest Seating
While graduates may bring an unlimited number of guests to their respective Commencement ceremonies held outdoors on the Main Green, limited seating will be available in the event of inclement weather.

In the case of rain, a decision to move all activities indoors will be communicated at least one day in advance.

A decision will be made by Noon on Friday, May 12, if Saturday’s Nursing Convocation and the President’s Garden Party will be moved indoors.
 
A decision will be made and communicated no later than 6 a.m. on Sunday, May 14, if the graduation ceremony will be moved indoors to Laird Hall.

All activities will move to Laird Hall with overflow seating areas in the Thomson Chapel and the Brooks Science Center Auditorium. The ceremony will be live-streamed to Thomson Chapel and the Brooks Science Center Auditorium. In addition, the live-stream link will be shared via wilson.edu, Wilson College email, and the College’s social media channels for friends and family unable to attend in person.

If the ceremonies are moved indoors, all guests will be required to have a paper ticket for entry into one of the viewing locations.

Tickets will be available for pickup BY THE GRADUATING STUDENT in Lenfest Lobby on Sunday from 8:15 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Parents, friends, or family members cannot pick up the tickets for the student.
 
Each graduating student will receive 3 tickets for Laird Hall, 3 tickets for Alumnae Chapel, and 2 tickets to the Brooks Science Center Auditorium. Graduation will be livestreamed into both the Alumnae Chapel and Brooks Auditorium.

Regardless of location, Commencement will start on time, with the procession beginning at 9:45 a.m.

Ceremony Policies
The ceremony will begin promptly, with the procession beginning 10 minutes before the respective start time. Please ask your guests to be seated 20 minutes before the respective start time. If the planned procedure is interrupted for any reason, look to the college marshals for direction.

The ceremony begins with the Platform Party processing from Norland Hall to the brick pathway and down the center aisle to the stage. They are followed by the faculty. Everyone should stand as graduates proceed to their seats on the Main Green.

Please remember that Wilson College is a non-smoking campus; this includes vaping and e-cigarettes. Guests are welcome to smoke in their cars or on the public sidewalks along campus.
 
Please turn off your cell phone ringer and refrain from taking calls in your seat during the ceremony. If you need assistance during the ceremony, please find one of our ushers wearing a Wilson name tag to assist you.

For Families: Please remain seated during the ceremony, and please do not congregate in front of the stage during the conferring of degrees. Please do not move chairs. At the end of the ceremony, families should remain seated. When appropriate, families and guests will be dismissed by the college marshals.

Pictures: We know that pictures are important to our graduates, friends, and family members. So that everyone can enjoy their respective ceremony, candidates for graduation, friends, and family are asked not to congregate in front of the stage during the conferral of degrees. The College has contracted with professional photographers to take a photo of each graduate receiving their diploma. Graduates will receive an email within one week after Commencement with a link to access their digital photo and purchase prints from Pictures Plus of Waynesboro, Pa.